SHOPPING

MALLS | ARTS & CRAFTS | GIFTS

MALLS

Denver Pavilions

On the 16th Street Mall between Tremont and Welton sts. (303) 260-6000

Pavilions bills itself as the new wave of retail, restaurant and entertainment. You can browse Banana Republic, indulge in something decadent at the Corner Bakery, then take in a flick at the United Artist theater (all high-backed stadium seating). Pavilions boasts several anchor attractions, including Wolfgang Puck's, a Virgin Records Megastore, Barnes & Noble and Hard Rock Café, along with more familiar shops, such as Bath and Body Works, Gap and The Limited. A 30,000-square foot NikeTown will open in 1999 (one of only 15 in the U.S.). Mall crawlers used to the confines of suburban malls will be surprised at the Pavilions' open air setting. But with a yearly average of 325 days of sunshine, outdoor shopping is rarely a problem in Denver.

Cherry Creek Shopping Center

3000 E. 1st Ave.  (303) 388-3900

Anchored by Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nieman Marcus and Foley's, the specialty stores in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center tend to be on the high end -- Louis Vuitton, Bally of Switzerland, Abercrombie & Fitch. Even the restroom is above average: Clad in marble, with automatic fixtures, it was written up in Time magazine! There is a dining area with quick food, or several upscale restaurants, such as Sfuzzi, for Northern Italian. Fairly new to the mall is an elaborate play area for kids with seating for adults near the mall entrance to Foley's. The attraction is so popular that mini playgroups have formed for regular visits.

Aurora Mall

Off I-225 at Alameda Ave., Aurora  (303) 344-4120

Aurora Mall has the look and feel of a fairly typical suburban mall. Anchored by Foley's, Sears and JCPenney, it offers recognizable stores like The Disney Store and Eddie Bauer, as well as smaller, more boutique-like shops. It recently installed a beautiful carved carousel where kids (and adults) can take a spin. And the movie theaters, once full-priced, now offer 50˘ movies.

Buckingham Square

Havana St. and Mississippi Ave., Aurora  (303) 755-3232

Buckingham Square is anchored by Dillards at one end and Montgomery Ward at the other. Mervyn's fills out one of the arms of the mall. The small stores in-between tend toward lower-end retail. A few food joints dot the mall, but there is no food court, per se. What Buckingham Square offers is a different show every weekend -- antique shows, car shows, community bake sales, arts and crafts festivals and more.

Tiffany Plaza

Hampden Ave. and Tamarac Dr. (across from Tamarac Square)  (303) 771-8210

The parking lot here is always full, in part due to the AMC movie theaters and the variety of restaurants here (Le Peep, Ciao! Baby, Uno's, among others). Shoppers come here for Loehmann's, Walgreen's, and T and C, a men's discount clothing store.

Villa Italia

Wadsworth Blvd. and Alameda Ave.,Lakewood  (303) 936-7424

With more than 140 stores, including Foley's, Dillards, Montgomery Ward and JCPenney, Villa Italia draws shoppers from Lakewood as well as all over Denver. Not one of the newer, glitzier malls, this is still a reliable shopping center.

Southglenn Mall

S. University Blvd. and Arapahoe Rd.,Littleton  (303) 795-0856

The main reason for shopping at Southglenn is that you'll pay lower sales tax there than anywhere else (3.8 percent as compared to 7.3 percent at Cherry Creek Shopping Center, for example.) Expanded four years ago, Southglenn is a clean, pleasant mall anchored by Sears, JCPenney, Dillards and Foley's. Other shops include typical mall offerings -- The Limited, Gap, Eddie Bauer and Victoria's Secret.

Park Meadows

8401 Park Meadows Center Dr., Littleton (303) 792-2999

Park Meadows is anchored by Nordstrom, Dillard's and Foley's. Many stores here are Colorado firsts -- Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware, for example. The food court is huge and the restaurants are on the swanky side. Park Meadows grows larger each year with the addition of retail around its perimeter. It's a great mix of low-, mid- and high-end retail.

Southwest Plaza

Wadsworth Blvd. and W. Bowles Ave.,Littleton  (303) 973-5300

Once Denver's largest mall, Southwest Plaza serves Jefferson County's booming population. Anchored by Foley's, JCPenney, Dillards, Montgomery Ward and Sears, Southwest Plaza has almost every type of clothing, food, music and shoe store. There are even a couple of furniture and accessories stores and a Target.

Northglenn Mall

Off I-25 at 104th Ave. W., Northglenn (303) 452-5683

Built in the late 1960s, Northglenn Mall is an amalgam of 30 stores, mostly mom-and-pop type places that sell gifts and jewelry. Mervyn's is the only anchor, and while there's no food court, there are a few independently owned restaurants.

Westminster Mall

Sheridan Blvd. and 88th Ave., Westminster  (303) 428-5634

Westminster Mall is the only mall in the area with six anchor stores, making it officially a Super Center. With 170 to 200 stores, Westminster draws from all over the state, especially folks from the mountain communities. Though 20 years old, this mall renovates frequently, so it's up-to-date.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Akente Express

919 Park Ave. W. (303) 297-8817

Akente Express is an African-American heritage shop that stocks original fabrics from Africa, handmade clothing, jewelry, artwork, sculpture and all-natural, alcohol-free essential oils.

The Clay Pigeon

601 Ogden St. (303) 832-5538

The Clay Pigeon is Denver's oldest gallery specializing exclusively in handmade works of clay, including both stoneware and porcelain. This is a great place to buy unusual serving pieces and wedding gifts.

Galeria Mexicana

3615 W. 32nd Ave.  (303) 964-9050

Galeria Mexicana specializes in Latin American crafts and collectibles. The prices are unbelievably affordable, and the selection of goods from jewelry to clothing to art is extensive.

Old Santa Fe Pottery

2485 S. Santa Fe Dr.  (303) 871-9434

Old Santa Fe Pottery houses two rows of shops filled with Oaxacan wood carvings, painted Talavera ceramics, furniture, rugs and all sorts of pottery. You'll enjoy a pretty central courtyard reminiscent of a Mexican village.

Skyloom Fibres

1705 S. Pearl St.  (303) 777-2331

Skyloom Fibres, the largest weaving, knitting, yarn, basketry and bead store in the Rocky Mountain area, is also a friendly, mellow place with a 20-page catalog of classes. It's easy to find; just look for the purple building. It's recently expanded to include clothing and gifts.

Pearls & Jewels

1457 S. Pearl St.  (303) 744-6944

Pearls & Jewels is a nifty little bead store that also offers classes in everything from basic bead-stringing to creating your own lampshade. It also has a gift shop and specializes in beaded curtains.

Gifts

Colorado in a Basket

6005 E. Evans Ave., No. 101  (303) 756-4778

Colorado in a Basket is the place to look for that quintessential Colorado gift. This company prepares a variety of baskets filled with Colorado products, or you can make up your own selection. Prices begin at $25. Stop by the showroom or call (303) 756-4778 for a brochure.

Made in Colorado

4840 W. 29th Ave.  (303) 480-9050

Gifts, collectibles and foods from 250 Colorado regional artisans and craftspeople are featured in this northwest Denver store. The works encompass the artistic, the whimsical, the edible, the decorative, the readable, the touchable. Their "unusual" gift collection includes a gold panning kit -- everything you need to strike it rich in the hills.

Angela Burdick CRS, GRI, ABR
Call Me: 
Office: (833) 738-1380
Direct: (303) 886-1900
Email: angela@DenverRealEstateNow.com
Angela Burdick
Realty Innovations
5753 S. Prince St. Unit 753
Littleton, CO 80160

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